Signal



May 6, 1941 o. H. HERSHMAN 2,240,777

SIGNAL Filed April l0, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1941- o. H. HERsHMAN2,240,777

SIGNAL Filed April 1 0, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Patented May 6, 1941SIGNAL Okla H. Hershman, Indianapolis, Ind., assigner to Star-LiteMarker Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of IndianaAppunti@ April 1o, 1934, serial No. 719,815 12 claims. rc1. 4o-13o) Itis the object of my invention to produce a highway warning signal whichwill be effective in use, especially at night, and which can be simplyand economically manufactured. More specifically, it is my object toproduce a warning l signal which will embody a plurality oflightreecting units, each comprising a lens and reflector, butitoeliminate the necessity for individually mounting said reflecting unitsupon a background which must be especially constructed to support thereecting units in the positions necessary to display the desired signal.

In carrying out my invention, I mount the reecting units on anarticulated flexible chain which can be cut to or made in any desiredlength and which can be bent into any desired pattern. The chain carriesmeans by which it can be secured to a support in any desired position orform, the chain automatically providing for the proper spacing of thereecting units.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Fig. 1 is afragmental elevation of a warning signal comprising a support orbackground upon which lengths of my chain are arranged to form letters;Fig. 2 is an elevation of a warning signal comprising abackgroundforming support upon which a standard form of turn-signal isdisplayed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of a section of chain;Fig. 4

shows the chain in plan; Figs. 5 and 6 are eleval tions of modied formsof the chain; Fig. 'I illustrates a further modification; Fig. 8 is anelevation of a means which may be employed in mounting the chain upon asupport; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Figs. 10 and. 11are, respectively, an elevation and a plan View of a modied form ofchain; Fig. 12 is a section 'on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 10; and Fig. 13is a fragmental sectional view showing al modified form of means forattaching the chain of Figs. i

l0 and 11 to a support.

'I'he chain shown in Figs. 1 to 4, 8 and 9 comprises a plurality oflinks each composed of a pair of spaced side barsk IIJ and II, adjacentlinks being `secured together by means of shouldered rivets I2, al1 in ageneral way similar to the construction of power transmission chain. Ineach link of the chain thus formed there is mounted a reflecting unitI3. reflecting unit are not illustrated, as such devices are on themarket and well knowri In general, theycomprise a casing having a lensin one end and' a light 'reflector'inside While I prefer this generaltype of light-reflecting unit, I do not limit myself to it, In the chainDetailsv of the 'shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the side bars Il! and II are ofa generally square shape, the rivets I2 passing through the holes inopposite corners of the squares. On one side of the chain, shown inFigs. 3 and 4 as the rear side, the laterally projecting corners of theside bars are provided with holes I4 for the passage of nails or screwsby means of which the chain can be secured in any desired positionagainst a plane-faced support I6. For convenience, the laterallyprojecting corners of the side bars on the opposite side of the chainmay be cut away as indicated at I'I to uncover the holes I 4.

The chain formed as above described may be used yinmany ways. `As shownin Fig. 1, it is used to form letters constituting a warning signal. InFig. 2, I have shown'a signal formed of a plurality of links of chainarranged to form an arrow. Another use of the chain lies in theoutlining of obstructions such, for example, as bridge abutments.

If the support I 6 upon which the chain is mounted is of wood or ofsimilar material it need not be specially prepared for its function as asupport for the chain. The chain is merely disposed upon it in thedesired conformation and secured in place by nails or screws which passthrough the openings I4 into the support. However, should it be desiredto make the support I6 of metal, it may be convenient to prepare it tosupport the chain in any of a plurality of positions to give any ofdifferent signals. For example, as shown in Fig. 2 the chain is arrangedto display the customary signal for a left turn, the support I6 beingperforated to provide for the passage of screws or rivets by which thechain is held in place. As indicated at I8, the support I 6 may beprovided with an auxiliary set of openings by means of which the tail ofthe arrow formed by the chain may be bent in the opposite directionfromthat shown in Fig. 2. By using the set of openings I8 and by invertingthe support I6, the signal presents the customary indication of a rightturn. By providing additional sets of auxiliary openings, the samesupport'withthe same chain may be used Ato indicate sharp turns or.gradual turns or reverse curves.

Instead of securing the chain to a support by nails, screws,*or r ivetspassing through the holes `I4, as previously set forth, 4otherexpedientsmay bek employed.l For example, I* may provide the chainv at intervalswith projections adapted to pass throughand be secured in holes in thesupport. Suchen arrangement isfindicated in Fig.

rangement the chain is mounted through thel medium of a mounting member2i! having a T-slot into which the chain is fed by longitudinalmovement, the light-renectingfunits I3"prject f ing outwardly throughthe sion, and the sidebajrs II on the back side of the chain serving tolre'- tain it in place. The mounting member'rnaybe formed in a number ofdifferent ways, that shown in the drawings comprising a back 25 and twoguide-members 2S, the. latter being offset along longitudinal linessothat spaces are provided between the offset portions and the back 25for the reception Vof the side bars II. The back 25 and guide members 26are conveniently formed of metal and secured together as by means ofspot welding. A series of holes 28 along each edge of the mountingmember is provided for the passage of bolts or screws by means of whichit may be secured in place. The chain may be held in place in themounting member by bending the offset portions of the guide members intocontact with the back 2,5 immediately beyond the ends of the chain.

The chains so far described are arranged with the axes oi the reflectingunits perpendicular to the Vplane of flexibility of the chain. This issatisfactory in situations where the surface of the support againstwhich the chain is fastened is plane and normal to the direction from.which the signal is to be Viewed. It may be desirable in some cases todispose the axes of the reecting units in the plane of flexibility ofthe chain, as indicated in Fig. 6. In such an arrangement, the links ofthe chain are formed by side bars I interconnected by rivets I2, eachlink carrying a reflecting unit I3 disposed with its axis per#pendicular to the axes of the rivets I2. Such a chain could be wrappedaround or otherwise secured to a tree or a pole Which might beconsidered as constituting a traine hazard.

In the chain illustrated in Fig. 5 links of the type shown in Fig. 6alternate with links of the type shown in Fig. 3. Such a ychain wouldhave a wide variety of possible applications.

In Fig. 7 I have indicated side bars or spacing members 3l different inshape from the square side bars in Fig.'3 and having the advantage thatthey permit the chain to be bent at a usharper angle. Instead of beingsquare, the side bars or spacing members 3| of Fig. 'Z are generallycircular, and each of them is provided with `a series of spacing ears3U, one pair oi'opposite ears being used to receive the rivets I2 andtheother pair being provided withholes Il for thev passage of 'screws ornailsf'by which the chain maybe held i111 place. I y V In the type oichain illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13v inclusive, the reiiecting units I3,instead of being mounted inthe middlel of the links. "are @hunted at'the Points. Where @diesem li connected and, in fact, serve instead 'olithe-rivets I2 as the interconnection between adjacent links. To thisend, each rBf-lcting unit comprises a body 35 and an enclosing shell-35, the reark end of the body being provided with a projecting stud 3Tand the opposite end with an outwardly extending annular flange 38. Thefront side bars 39 of the chain are clamped between the flange 38 andthe front end of the shell 3S, while the side bars 40 on the rear sideof the chain are clamped between the base of the casing 36 and a but @Ion the stud 3`|- `Two 'different larrangements are illustrated in Figs.10 to 13 inclusive forholding the chain to the support I6. vIn thearrangement illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the rear side bars 4I)of the chain are provided at intermediate points with laterallyextending ears 42 having holes for the 'reception' oife s'rews' 43 whichenter or pass through the support I5. Preferably, the ears 42 'areoffset 'rearwardly so that they may be seated in Icontact with thesupport I6 while still providing space for the nuts 4|. It is notnecessary that every link of the chain be provided with ears 42, suchears being shown only on the outer side-,bars 'of the chain.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 13, the studs "3J are made longenough to project througlthe support I6 in order to receive a nut 45onthe back of such support. When this arrangement'isused, the'ears 42may be eliminated.

"The'cliain Yshown nFigs. 10 to 13 has the adsntage that the rivets, Iasseparate parts, may bemeli4v nate'd, their place vbeing taken by therefie'ctingunits. In addition, by tightening the nuts 4I theside"`bars"o'f adjacent links are clamped together and the chain held ina definite ccgatin- 'The various chains shown in the drawings are ofVlight construction and are intended solely for use as 4warr1'ir`1g`signals. My invention contemplates, however, that it' desired the chainmay be of 'suiiiciently heavy' construction to serve as a barrier, the,presence ofwhich would be clearly indicated atY night by the spacedreflecting units.

I claim as my invention:

l.' A device of the class described, comprising a supportgan articulatedchain having a plurality of'pivotall'y connected links, andlight-reecting units-carried' by said links, said chain being providedat intervals with means for securing it to said support; saidlight-reflecting units being disposed with their axes alternatelyperpendicular andlparallel .to the axes of pivotal connection of thelinks. 2. A device of the class described, comprising a plurality oflight-reflecting units, a spacing member in which eeen of saidiight-reflecting units' is mounted, said spacing members being pivotallyinterconnected in series, and means .carriedr by said devicefor securingit to a support.

"'31 A' device of the class described, comprising a ehai'n lformed'of aplurality of pivotally interconnected links eachhaving a pair oflaterally spaced side bars, and light-reflecting units mounted inintermediate positions in said links, thesidembars on one side of Vsaidchain projecting laterally 'beyond 'the side bars on the other side,said' projecting' portions Vbeing provided with 'f 'fo'rwthe' passageofV chain-'mounting openings for .the passage of chain-mounting members.

5. A device ci the class described, comprising a plurali-ty or"light-reflecting units, a spacing member in which each of saidlight-reflecting units is mounted, said spacing members being pivotallyinterconnected in series, and a supporting member having a longitudinalgroove, said spacing members having laterally projecting portionsadapted to be received in said groove.

6. A device of the class described, comprising an articulated chain, aseries of light-reflecting units mounted on said chain in spacedrelation, and va mounting member provided With a T-slot, said chainhaving provisions receivable in said T-slot to hold said chain inposition in said mounting member.

7. A reilector button assembly comprising a plurality of reflectorbutton housings, oppositely disposed laterally extending ear portions oneach housing, means joining said housings together through said earportions and reflector buttons positioned Within said housings andpartially exposed.

8, A marking strip for forming and indicating highway legends andcharacters, comprising a eXible body including a plurality of sections,means for pivotally connecting said sections for relative transverseadjustment, and light reflecting elements carried by said sections atthe location of said means for pivotally connecting said sections, eachof said sections being provided with perforations at its opposite endsand the means for pivotally connecting said sections comprising studscarried by said light reflecting elements and passing through theperforations of adjacent links.

9. A marking strip for forming land indicating highway legends andcharacters, comprising a eXible body including a plurality of sections,means for pivotally connecting said sections for relative transverseadjustment, and light reflecting elements carried by said sections atthe location of said means for pivotally connecting said sections, atleast some of said sections being provided With medial perforations forthe passage of supporting elements.

10. A reflector sign, comprising a supporting panel, a plurality ofreilector button housings, a reflector button disposed in each of saidhousings with its axis substantially perpendicular to said panel, eachof said housings being provided with a pair of ears projecting laterallyoutward from the housing generally perpendicular to the axis of thebutton therein, the ears on each housing being spaced from each otherangularly about the button-axis and provided with perforations neartheir outer extremities, said housings being serially arranged inpredetermined pattern on the face of said panel with the ears of eachbutton overlapping the ears of adjacent buttons and With theperforations in overlapping ears in alinement, and means for securingsaid housings to said panel, said means including ymembers extendingthrougb. said alined perforations and into said panel.

11. A reflector sign, comprising a supporting panel, a series of linksarranged serially in predetermined pattern on the face of said panel, areflector button mounted in an intermediate position on each of saidlinks, each of said links being provided with perforations at itsopposite ends, the periorations in each link being respectively alinedwith perforations in the ends of adjacent links, and means for securingsaid links to said panel, said means including members extending throughsaid alined perforations and into said panel.

12. The invention set forth in claim 11 with the addition that each ofsaid buttons is mounted. in a housing. said housings being in turnmounted in the respective links.

` OKLA H. HERSHMAN.

